Day 13 Tiger Tops – Varanasi

You board your flight this morning to the oldest and most holy city in India – Varanasi. Referred to as Benares during the time of British rule, religion, art, and education flourished here long before the arrival of Europeans. In Indian mythology, the city is called Kashi, which comes from the Kashia tribe, who first settled here 3,000 years ago. After independence from the British in 1947, the name Varanasi – which stems from a combination of the nearby Varuna and Asi Rivers – came back into use. But the most important river for Varanasi is the Ganges, whose holy waters are said to wash away the sins of all who bathe in it. Most Hindus make a pilgrimage to the Ganges at least once in their lives. Of the many cities and towns along the 1,565-mile length of the river, Varanasi is the most favored destination. The pilgrims bask in the Kasha (divine light) that they believe emanates from the ancient city’s thousand or more temples, clustered along the river.

The city is defined by its ghats (the block-long stairways) leading down to the river that is the focus of neighborhood life. As the first rays of the sun fall on the gently flowing Ganges, thousands of devout take the ceremonial dip; the ghats come alive with people from all walks of life.

A few miles away, you visit Sarnath, where Buddha gave his first sermon; there are many Buddhist monks clothed in rich saffron and crimson robes visiting here as well. Archaeologists have uncovered many art treasures in the ruins of Sarnath’s ancient monastery that you see at the museum here.

Your hotel tonight is the Taj Ganges. Set on over 70 acres, dotted with lovely English hedges, rose gardens, and mango groves, this attractive brick and marble hotel is a welcoming sight. The newly renovated marble lobby has a very pretty domed ceiling and Indian art. Private accommodations have colorful Indian features offset by pure white walls and antique furniture. Your à la carte dinner is served in the restaurant decorated with old Varanasi drawings with views of the garden and pool. The consistently impressive menu offers a delicious variety of international dishes. (B,L,D)

Day 14 Varanasi – Agra

Early this morning, you follow the footsteps of the pilgrims and take a boat along the holy river. The early morning sun illuminates the countless temples that form the riverbank’s skyline. You glide past buildings that silently hold the history of city. There is a simplicity in the air, a spiritual beauty that has sustained the country and its people through the centuries.

This afternoon, you fly to the medieval Mughal city of Agra, You stay at the Oberoi Amarvilas, a wonderful hotel  surrounded by meticulously groomed grounds, including hanging gardens and secluded courtyards with views of the Taj Mahal. This evening, you have the opportunity to watch the royal court dance of the Mughal kings (Kathak) and for dinner you select from an excellent variety of delicious local specialties. (B,D)

Day 15 Agra

Today you explore the flourishing capital of the Mughal Empire in the 16th and 17th centuries. At the Taj Mahal, you see one of the Seven Wonders of the World; the Emperor Shah Jahan had the memorial built in memory of his favorite wife. Rudyard Kipling described it as "the embodiment of all things pure, all things holy and all things unhappy". Completed in 1652, twenty thousand craftsmen from Persia, Turkey, France, and Italy labored 17 years to create the monument on the banks of the Yamuna River. Pointed Mogul arches highlight the building’s square corners. The detailed stonework on each tiny, intricate flower petal on the Queen’s tomb is so fine it is impossible to see the tiny breaks between the stones. An individual one-inch flower contains 60 separate pieces. A single block of marble, carved into an intricate latticework as fine as lace, surrounds the tombs of Shah Jahan and his wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

You also visit the 16th-century Agra Fort, a reflection of the creativity of Akbar, his son Jahangir, and his grandson, Shah Jahan. Roughly shaped like a triangle, the fort was encircled by a massive 1½ - mile-long, 69-foot-high sandstone wall. In the palace inside, Hindu architecture blends with Central Asian styling. You see a traditional marble inlay workshop and watch artisans practicing their centuries’-old craft of exquisitely detailed inlaid furniture and handicrafts.

The lavish, painstakingly tended grounds of your hotel are the perfect place to relax this afternoon. In addition, there is tennis, croquet, archery, mini-golf, and yoga; many like to sit with the in-house astrologer to listen to predictions about their future. Swim in the courtyard pool or sit back with a good book; when you want a change of pace, check out the extensive shopping arcade. (B,L)

Day 16 Agra – Delhi

It is an early morning, but well worthwhile, as you take a rickshaw ride to the renowned Taj Mahal and watch the rising sun’s pale rays give a soft pastel luster to the white marble. This is undoubtedly the best time to see this beautiful monument.

Then you drive to the magnificent deserted 16th-century city of Fatehpur Sikri (still almost perfectly preserved), the dream capital of the greatly loved Emperor Akbar. During his brief stay here, in the second half of the 16th century, a great complex of palaces and mosques was built. The cluster of royal buildings sits atop a ridge overlooking the village of Sikri; the city was protected on three sides by massive walls, the fourth side was protected by a lake. When English delegates visited the city in 1583, it is said they were amazed to see a city that was larger and more luxurious than London. After ruling here for 15 years, Akbar was forced to abandon his dream city (probably due to the scarcity of water); Akbar then moved his capital to Lahore (now in Pakistan) and eventually back to Agra. Fatehpur Sikri became a ghost town.

Later in the afternoon, you fly to Delhi and check into the Taj Mahal Hotel, a striking pink sandstone building beautiful grounds, that holds a plush Mughal-theme lobby with elegant tapestries and intricately carved marble. The spacious premium guestrooms feature traditionally inspired fabrics in peacock hues, art on the walls, and ornate carved furniture with adjoining baths with inlaid marble.

Tonight you attend a Maharaja festival and are treated like royalty by hostesses in exquisite dress. You are welcomed to the grand Durbar Hall as rose petals are sprinkled in your path. Samovars, hukkas, and lancers grace the surroundings; and the elaborate meal of traditional Mughal dishes is accompanied by a sitar and flute performance. (B,D)

Day 17 Delhi

Ever changing and ever expanding, Delhi is a fascinating medley of sights, sounds and smells – a unique blend of East and West. Old simple bungalows sit beside extravagant European-style villas, old monuments and ruins lie in the midst of modern neighborhoods. Delhi has absorbed the land of former villages, but obvious signs of village life are boldly evident in every corner of the city.

After breakfast, you explore New Delhi. You drive down Raj Path, the broadest avenue in Delhi, to Sir Edwin Lutyen’s Imperial City where you pass India Gate and visit the Presidential Palace and Parliament House. You travel through Delhi’s beautiful tree-lined avenues and the Diplomatic Enclave enroute to the 12th-century, 234-foot-high fluted minaret of Qutab Minar. Called the Seventh Wonder of Hindustan, it is the tallest stone tower in India. Later, you stop to explore art galleries and boutiques at the Hauz Khas, a lively village surrounded by 1,000-year-old fortifications.

You also have a shopping expedition to the Cottage Industries Emporium. This is a five-story department store offering the highest quality Indian crafts in the country. It also ships reliably all over the world. One floor is dedicated solely to carpets, another to sterling silver designs and jewelry, and a third to leathers and silks. You will also find hand carvings and furniture in this marvelous collection of treasures.

Tonight, you dine in an elegant French restaurant, set in a reproduction of an Orient Express railway car. (B,L,D)

Day 18 Delhi

Today, you tour Old Delhi; you stop at the magnificent Red Fort (Lal Qila), Emperor Shah Jahan’s sprawling 17th century capital, built at the zenith of the Mughal Empire in India. A short distance away, you go to "Moonlight Square" (Chandni Chowk), the old capital’s famous thoroughfare and still one of Delhi’s most important commercial centers. You ride on cycle-rickshaws down lanes, past Rajasthani women in bright saris and men in lungis (skirtlike wraps), through the hustling silver market and the wholesale spice market.

Next, down a short narrow lane, you see the largest mosque in Asia, the elegant Jumma Masjid. Completed in 1656, constructed of red sandstone and marble, three sets of broad steps lead up to double-story gateways and a magnificent courtyard.

You have the afternoon at leisure to relax at the hotel or to explore on your own. Tonight, join your companions for an à la carte dinner featuring local cuisine such as specialties as roast chicken or lamb, potato fritters or rice and vegetable dishes accented with spices. (B,D)

Day 19 Delhi – Dubai

A morning flight takes you to the city of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates – a union of seven emirates lying along the oil-rich eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula.

You check into the exclusive new Jumeirah Beach Hotel, located right on the beach. This hotel is designed to reflect Dubai’s seafaring heritage, the façade looks like a breaking wave; and the nautical theme is carried throughout. The four elements of nature - Earth, Air, Fire, and Water - are represented by the color scheme throughout the interior - browns and reds for Earth, blues and whites for Air, reds and yellows for Fire, and blues and greens for Water.

You join your travel companions for a delicious à la carte dinner at a gourmet restaurant in the hotel. (B,D)